Cornbelly’s 2017 maze celebrates heroes. Three images make up the maze: a soldier, a superhero and a mother/grandmother. (Photo by Rebecca Lane/UV360)

A hero is defined by his or her actions — and Cornbelly’s is recognizing every type of hero in this year’s corn maze design.

Cornbelly’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest has designed its maze after inspirational people, according to corn maze creator Brett Herbst. After narrowing the ideas down for the field to six, the committee voted on a hero theme.

“Every year we try to pick something a little different, a little unique,” Herbst said. “Superheroes have gotten a lot of publicity the last several years.”

Three types of heroes make up the design for the maze: a traditional superhero, a member of the military and a matronly figure.

“We have a lot of superheroes that we all know that are military or local people,” Herbst said. “We thought it was really fitting to honor all superheroes. We really wrestled on how to honor the everyday superhero in all our lives and we thought of a grandmother reading a book.”

One of these everyday heroes is eight-year-old Carson Hancock, who is going in for open heart surgery in October to treat a right coronary artery condition. Carson asked his mother, Sara, to go on a helicopter ride, and Cornbelly’s helped Carson, Sara and his six-year-old brother Blake take a helicopter ride over the maze.

Parker Krynen as Superman, Blake Hancock (6), Carson Hancock (8) and Maquel Owen as Superwoman pose at Cornbelly’s. Carson and his brother were invited to ride in a helicopter during Cornbelly’s Media Day because Carson is an everyday hero honored for his bravery as he undergoes open heart surgery in October. (Photo by Rebecca Lane/UV360)

“This is a meant-to-be type of thing,” Sara Hancock said.

Children and Earth, an organization that helps families of children with medical conditions, connected the Hancocks and Cornbelly’s to make this dream come true.

Cornbelly’s began planning for the corn maze about seven months in advance. In March, they started brainstorming potential designs and voting on the final decision. In May, they planted the corn. Then in June the staff began cutting out the design in the field when the corn was only six inches tall.

Outside of the corn maze, Cornbelly’s has 50 other attractions, including 20 new additions for 2017. Kidsville, a play area, has new buildings for children. Then “Jest in Time” is a new circus clown show that will be performed from Oct. 4 through 11. Plus, outdoor adventurers be aware: Cornbelly’s added the Bee Line, which is a kids zip line, and a ropes obstacle course.

Insanity Point, the haunted house at Cornbelly’s, opens on Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 30.

“Anybody who is interested in a fall family experience, they won’t find anything like this for many states away,” Herbst said. … “We have people who spend all day here and never get bored. It is very inclusive for all demographics.”

Cornbelly’s opens on Sept. 22 – Nov. 4 from 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on
Friday, Saturday and UEA days. It is closed Sundays and Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. Learn more at cornbellys.com.

While her first language is sarcasm, Rebecca dabbles in English and Russian to achieve her lifelong dream of being a journalist. A BYU sports fan, reading enthusiast and wannabe world traveler, Rebecca is a Colorado transplant that is convinced Colorado's mountains are much larger than the many Utah County peaks. Rebecca manages UtahValley360.com for Bennett Communications. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccalane.